Machine to neck-in and flange metallic drum blanks



Feb. 4, 1958 J. P. CALCATERRA 2,

MACHINE TO NECK-IN AND FLANGE METALLIC DRUM BLANKS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18, 1954 INVENTOR ATTQRNEYS Feb. 4, W58 J. P. CALCATERRA 2,822,922

MACHINE TO NECK-IN AND FLANGE METALLIC DRUM BLANKS Filed Oct. 18. 1954 INVENTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jasevh P. Ca [adieu-a ATTORNEYS Feb. 4, 1958 J. P. CALCATERRA 2,822,022

MACHINE -TO NECK- IN AND FLANGE METALLIC DRUM BLANKS Filed 001:. 18. 1954 5 Shee ts-Sheet 5 mvzmon Joseph P. CaZcazerra ATTORNEYS Feb. 4, 1958 J. P. CALCATERRA 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 'Oct. 18. 1954 0m mm E Z @w M A P e W w w m whm ATTORN EYS Feb. '4, 1958 J. P. CALCATERRA 2,822,022

MACHINE TO NECK-IN AND FLANGE METALLIC DRUM BLANKS Fi led Oct. 18, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOFI BY zamza/csmzdm ATTORNEYS United States Patent MACHINETONECK-IN AND FLANGE METALLI DRUM BLANKS Joseph P. Calcaterra, Stockton, Califi, assignor to Carando Machine Works, Stockton, Calif., a partnership Application October '18, 1954, Serial No. 462,935

6 Claims. (Cl. 153-2) provide a novel power actuated machine operative to effectively support, rotate, and neck-in 'a drum shell as it rotates; the shell being carried at one end on a rotary, combination expansi'ble chuck and die head, and there being a separate die movable into engagement with the exterior of the shell whereby, in cooperation with said head, to neck-inthe' rotating shell.

Another important object of theinvention is to provide a machine, for thepurp'ose described, which includeswith a support'fo'r the shellnovel mechanism for advancing the shell onto the combinationexpansible chuck and die head, .and for retracting the shell therefrom in the cyclic operation of the machine.

'An additional object of the invention is to provide the mechanism, as in the preceding paragraph, with a novel unit arranged to curl the end flange on the'rotating shell after it. is advanced onto the head and while said shell rotates therewith for the'neck-in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide the machine with a novel cradle whosepurpose is to support the shell in proper position for the aforesaid advance onto and retraction from the head; said cradle being arranged for movement to cause the shell to automatically roll .out of the machine at the end of the cyclic operation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide 'a' machine, 'as above, which is designed to function positively, smoothly, and 'accuratelyto'neck-in and flange a sheet metal drum shell.

Still another object of 'the invention is to provide a practical, reliable and durable machineto neck-in and flange metallic drum blanks, and one which will be exceedingly effective for'the purpose forwhich it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure "and relative arrangement of parts 'as willfully appear 'by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is 'a "side"el'evation of themachine in starting 1 position, with "a shell 'on the cradle.

Fig. 2 'isa similarview, but with the machin'einfoperation to neck-in and flange the shell.

Fig. 3 isamenlarged, fragmentary sectional plan view on line 3-3 of Fig. '1.

Fig.4 is anenlarged, "fragmentary plan view on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. Sis 'an enlarged, transverse verticalsection on line 55 of Fig. '1 "looking in the direction *of the combination 'exp'ansible chuck and diehead.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, transverse vertical sectiononline of Fig. '2shovving the cradlestructur'e.

"ice

chine comprisesan'elongated heavy-duty bed'l which is hollow; 'snch bed having a fixed column 2, likewise hollow, upstanding therefromadjacent but short 'of one end. -A tubular drive shaft 3 is journaled longitudinally in the column 2 intermediate the top and bottom thereof; such shaft projecting at the ends from such column.

At :itsfront end the shaft 3 includes a bob 4 to whic is attached, in coaxial relation, an enlarged, circular, combination expansible chuck and die head, indicated generally at 5, and which is hereafter described in detail.

The drive shaft 3 is actuated from an electric motor 6 by a multiple belt drive 7 which includes a large pulley 8 on said shaft adjacent its rear end; the motor 6 and drive 7 being enclosed within a protective housing 9 securedtotheback sideof column 2.

The -head -5-includes a circular back plate 10, and a circular front plate 11 of lesser diameter disposed in axially spaced, symmetrical relation; such plates being secured together-as a unit by a'plurality of circumferentially spacedspanner sleeves and bolt assemblies 12 disposed sho rt oftheperiplrery of said head. A multiplicity of guided, segmental ohuckand dieshoes 13 are arranged in a circle between thepIates-I O and 11, and said shoes are slotted, -as shown, and engage 'over corresponding spanner sleeve and bolt assemblies 12.

The segmental 'chucka'nd'die" shoes are worked radially in or out, to contract or expand the head, by links 14 pivotally connected between corresponding shoes and a radial disc 15 on the front end of-a sliding control shaft 16 which extends through the tubular drive shaft 2. Thus, by shifting the shaft 16 'axi'ally in one direction or the other, the head 5 is caused tocontract or expand, respectively.

, At their outer end, and at the rear, the shoes 13 are notched to form 'a peripheral die channel 17 which, in cross section, is shaped as shown; such channel 17 being disposed immediately ahead of 'an annular stop collar 13 fixed on the face of the back plate 10. The stop collar 18 is formed with a forwardly and outwardly opening, right angle, circumferential seat 19; the head 5 being partially expanded at the start so that the outer ends of shoes 13 are substantially horizontally alined with the bottom of said seat 19. Such partial expansion is automatically attained as follows:

The sliding control shaft 16 projects beyond the rear end vof the drive shaft 3 and is there connected to a free running coupling 20 which includes a thrust hearing; the coupling 20 in turn being secured to the adja'cent end of the longitudinal piston rod 21 of a doubleacting :power cylinder '22 mounted on a box frame 23 fixed 'on bed 1. The power cylinder 23 is initially deenergized, and at this time its piston 24 is disposed intermediate the cylinder ends.

.The piston rod 21 is fitted with a cross hea'd '25 against which abut headed parallel rods 26 'whichislide through a cross bar 27 in frame 23 between cross head 25 and the coupling 20. Compression springs 28"surround the rods 26 between the rod heads and cross bar 27. Nuts 2611 on the rods 26 limit the motion of said rods by the in guideways 30 on the face of column 2, and such-slide 3 unit is fitted, at its lower end, with a die wheel 31 exposed at the bottom and adapted to enter, and substantially match. the peripheral die channel 17 in head when said unit is in a lowered position.

A h riz ntal. lon itudinallv extending c unter sha t 32 is iournaled on too f column 2. and such h ft is fitted with a rotarv mm 3 wh ch enga es a roller 34 on the manor end of the s ide unit 29. The am is h ped so th t with e ch revol n it imo rts a dnwnstro e t the slide unit fr m an initiallv r ised posi n: then h s e un t down for a len th of time: and nallv p m ts the unit to raise to its startin position. The cam 2 rotates in the directi n indicated bv the arrow in Fig. 5.

Return of the slide unit 29 to its up ermost os ti n after each cycle as above is accompli hed by a n rm y ener ized power cv inder 35 connected t one e d of a pivoted lever arm 36 whose other end bears beneath a part of said slide unit to vieldablv urge the same in an upward direction at all times. Also, this arrangement maintains cam 33 and roller 34 in contact throughout the full cycle.

The counter shaft 32 is driven from shaft 3. but at greatly reduced s eed, by an endless chain and sprocket unit 37 leading from said shaft 32 and drivin another endless chain and sprocket unit 38 which extends to such counter shaft. With this speed-reducing drive for the counter shaft 32, the cam 33 makes only one revolution from a starting position with the slide unit raisedfor a number of revolutions of the head 5.

Adjacent but forwardly of the column 2, the bed 1 is fitted with a cradle, indicated generally at 39, adapted to support a drum shell 40 in a longitudinal position substantially horizontally alined with the head 5.

The cradle 39 comprises a pair of parallel, transversely extending, bellcrank arms 41 disposed in spaced relation and facing upwardly; such bellcrank arms 41 being fixed longitudinal alinemeut with the axis of head 5; such counter shaft 58 projecting a distance from the case in the direction of cradle 39. At its projecting end the counter shaft 58 is fitted with a peripherally chamfered centering disc 59 adapted to enter a cradle-supported shell from the adjacent end, but which disc-both at the start and at the finish of each operation of the ma chine-is clear of said shell.

The counter shaft 58 and disc 59 thereon are adapted to be driven at the same speed as the head 5, and in the same direction, by the following:

A longitudinal shaft 60 is journaled in bed 1, and is driven from shaft 3 by an endless chain and sprocket unit 61; the counter shaft 58 being in turn driven from shaft 60 by an endless chain and sprocket unit 62 which includes a bearing supported sprocket 63 having relatively slidable key connection with said shaft 60. The bearing 64 associated with sprocket 63 is fixed to the slide 54. i

A transversely extending, part-circle, downwardly concave pusher plate 65 initially lies very close to the upper portion of the centering disc 59 in concentric relation; such pusher plate having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of said disc 59 and'facing head 5, being adapted to end-abut the shell 40 on cradle 39. The pusher plate is supported by a pair of transversely spaced, parallel rods 66 which are longitudinally slidably carried in and project through guide sleeves 66a atop case 55; the rods 66 being connected at the end opposite the pusher plate by a cross head 67. Compression springs 68, about rods 66 between the sleeves 67 and adjustment nuts 69 on said rods adjacent the pusher plate 65, yieldably urge the latter toward the head 5 to the limit permitted by a longitudinal power cylinder 70 connected between at the elbow to a longitudinal shaft 42 journaled at its 3 ends on elongated, U-shaped brackets 43 supported transversely of the bed 1 by flanges 44 secured to the latter.

At the ends the bellcrank arms 41 carry rollers 45 which receive and support the drum shell 40; the latter being delivered to the cradle by an inwardly inclined,

feed-in deck 46 attached to the related end of brackets 43. The drum shell 40 is discharged from the cradle onto an outwardly inclined carry-off deck 47 attached to the other end of said brackets 43.

The cradle 39 is normally horizontal, but to discharge the drum shell 40 onto the deck 47 the cradle is tipped upwardly at the remote end and downwardly at the adjacent end so that the shell then rolls of itself from the cradle to deck 47. Such tipping of the cradle is accomplished by a power cylinder 48 pivotally connected between an car 49 on bed 1 and the outer end of a radial arm 50 on the shaft 42.

The following mechanism is employed to axially advance a drum shell 40 from an initial clearance position on cradle 39 to a position end-engaged on the head 5, and to subsequently retract said shell back to said clearance position for discharge from the cradle onto the deck 47. V

A normally fixed, but longitudinally adjustable slide 51 is mounted on the bed 1 adjacent but short of the end opposite the column 2; such slide 51 being adjustposition of the slide 51.

A counter shaft 58 is journaled in the case in cross head 67 and case 55. The power cylinder 70, when energized, works against springs 68 to retract pusher plate 65 a distance back from the centering disc 59.

In order to decelerate the advance of slide 54 and the working parts thereon, as the same closely approach the limit of advancing motion imparted by power cylinder 56, and for the reason hereinafter explained, the following structure is included:

A pair of transversely spaced, parallel slide rods 71 are fixed to the back of case 55 and extend longitudinally in the direction of the adjacent end of the bed 1; such rods 71 passing intermediate their ends through guides 72, and being connectedat their free ends by a cross head 73. A dash pot 74 is mounted lengthwise on the slide 51 in a position with the dash pot plunger 75 projecting toward but normally spaced from the cross head 73. Just before the power cylinder 56 reaches the end of its advancing stroke in the direction of head 5, the cross head 73 abuts plunger 75; the dash pot 74 then yieldably resisting the final portion of such advancing stroke to an extent that the corresponding travel of slide 54 and parts thereon is quite slow.

The case 55 supports, on a cross plate 76, and at each laterally projecting end thereof, a flange curling unit,

. indicated generally at 77. Each unit 77 comprises a horizontal, U-shaped yoke 78 laterally adjustably secured to the plate 76 and extending in the direction of the cradle 39;. there being a transverse axis curling roller 79, circumferentially grooved as shown, longitudinally adjustably journaled in the yoke and being exposed in said direction. 7

- The flange curling units 77 are disposed to the sides of centering disc 59 and above the bed 1 a distance such that they lie in substantially the median horizontal plane of a shell supported on said cradle 39,

Each operational cycle of the above described machine, to neck-inone end portion of a drum shell 40 and'to simultaneously curl a flange on the other end, is as The drum shell 40a first fed from deck 46 by gravity onto the normally substantially horizontal cradle 39, and

such shell is thus initially supported in alinement between,

but clear of, the head andicentering disc. 59. See Fig. l. The power cylinder 56 is then energized to 'cause'anadvancing stroke thereof and of the slide 54, and parts thereon, from a retracted starting position. At the beginning of such advancing stroke, the centering disc 59 enters the adjacent end of the'shell 40 and the pusher plate 65 engages such end; continuance of the advance causing axial motion of the shell and full entry of the initially partially expanded head 5 into'the related end portion of said shell, and at which time the latter end-abuts against the stop collar 18 and rests on the seat 19. This occurs slightly before the power cylinder 56 reaches 'a position of full advance, and at approximately the time the dash pot 75 comes into play. As the head 5 is initially'partially expanded, the shell is more readily guided into position on said seat 19.

Upon the shell abutting stop collar 18, the power cylinder 22 is energized in a direction topull on control shaft 16, which fully expands the head 5 into clamping engagement in the shell 5; the power cylinder 70 is energized to retract the pusher plate 65 against'springs 68 and away from the shell; and the electric motor 6 is started so as to rotate head 5, centering disc 59, and the drum then carried therebetween; all being effected in close sequence.

Immediately upon starting of the motor 6, the cam begins to slowly rotate from 'a'starting position, lowering the slide unit 29 until'the die wheel 31 engages the faster rotating shell 40 and entersthe die channel 17; the cam't'hen holding'the die wheel in channel 17 for a number of revolutions of the 'shell and until an inwardly deformed full-circle neck 80 is produced on said shell. Thereafter, the cam returns to its starting position, the slide unit 29 and die wheel 31 raise clear of the shell, and the motor 6 stops.

During the period of time that the head 5 and die wheel are cooperating to neck-in the shell, the power cylinder 56 continues to urge the slide 54 forwardly, althoughas hereinbefore explained-at very slow speed on account of the resistance offered by the dash pot 74. With such retarded continuance of advancing motion of slide 54 (pusher plate 65 having already been retracted), the curling rollers 79 engage the adjacent end of the rotating shell and curl an outturned flange 81 thereon; such flange being completed before the slide unit 29 raises to starting position and the motor 6 stops.

After the motor 6 stops, the power cylinder 22 is reversed to fully contract the head 5 to free shell 40, the power cylinder 56 is reversed to retract slide 54, and the power cylinder 70 is released so that springs 68 advance the pusher plate 65.

With such retraction of the slide 54, the shell 40 is pulled axially ofl the head 5 by means of a hook 82 on a dog-leg lever 83 pivoted to the case 55; such lever being raised, and the hook engaged with the flange 81, by means of a longitudinal cam block 84 rigid with the bed 1. When the shell 40 escapes the head 5, the lever 83 rides off the cam block 84 and the hook drops clear; slide 54 retracting a further distance to withdraw the centering disc 59 from the shell and the latter then resting free on the cradle 39.

Nextly, the power cylinder 48 is energized to tip up the cradle 39, and the shell discharges by gravity from the machine on carry-off deck 47; this completing the cycle of operation of the machine, and all parts being returned to their initial or starting positions.

The power cylinders included in the machine are all pneumatically energized by a fluid pressure conduit system having electro-mechanical valves therein; such system being omitted here, as it forms no part of the invention. However, cylinders 22, 48, 56, and 70 are automatically controlled by such system, and which is associated with an electrical circuit (not shown) having not only such electro-mechanical valves, but the electric motor 6, and suitable switches interposed therein. The

switches are opened and closed at the proper times, to

' properlysequence the working of such cylinders and the motor, by 'cam means on moving parts of the machine.

Certain of the switches are shown at 85, 86, 87, 88, and 89; the switches 85 and 86 being cam-actuated from the piston TOCl 21, while the switches 87, 88, and 89 are actuated by a longitudinal cam rod 90 secured to, and movable with, the slide supported case 55.

Withthe above described machine, a sheet metal drum shell canbe'rapidly, positively, and accurately die-worked to substantially simultaneously form the neck 80 at one end portion and'the curled flange 81 at the opposite end.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as will substantially fulfill the objects of the invention, as set forth therein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Havingthus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A machine'to neck-in a sheet metal drum shell adjacent one end thereof, said machine comprising a mount, an'expansible rotary chuck and die head journaled in the mount and adapted to engage in said one end of the shell'andincluding a plurality of circumferentially spaced die and chuck shoes formed with a peripheral die channel in their outer face, a separate die supported from the mount for movement radially of the head between a clearance position and a working position projecting into the channel to neck-in the drum upon rotation of the head, means mounting the shoes in the head for radial expanding and contracting movement, means connected to the shoes to move the same between a fully expanded shell-clamping position and a fully contracted position wherein the shoes are closer to the axis of the head than the bottom of the channel when the shoes are fully expanded whereby to enable the drum shell, after being necked-in, to be withdrawn axially from the head upon contraction of the shoes, and means acting on the shoe moving means to initially maintain the shoes in a partially expanded position so that they will just fit into the shell before the latter is placed on the chuck.

2. A machine to neck-in a sheet metal drum shell adjacent one end thereof, said machine comprising a mount, an expansible rotary chuck and die head journaled in the mount and adapted to engage in said one end of the shell and to clampingly engage a drum shell for rotation therewith, means cooperating with the head to neck-in the drum shell when said shell is in place on the head and the latter is rotating, a cradle ahead of the head to relatively slidably support the drum initially clear of the head and in axial alinement therewith, power means to engage the other end of the shell and advance the same onto the head, and means included with and mounted on the shell advancing means to flange said other endv of the shell when the latter is fully advanced onto and is rotating with the head.

3. In a machine adapted to annularly deform a cylindrical drum shell adjacent one end thereof, and which machine includes a rotary chuck set with its axis horizontal and arranged to enter the shell at one end thereof and to clampingly engage the same, a cradle ahead of the chuck disposed to support a drum shell in clearance but longitudinally alined relation with the chuck, means to advance a supported shell onto the chuck for clamping engagement thereby, means mounted on the advancing means to form an outwardly projecting flange on the end of the drum opposite the chuck, and an element connected to the advancing means and functioning upon retractive movement thereof to engage the flange and pull the shell ofi the chuck.

4. A machine, as in claim 3, with means functioning automatically upon the shell being clear of the chuck to release said element from the flange.

5. In a machine adapted to annularly deform a cylindrical drum shell adjacent one end thereof, and which machine includes a rotary chuck set with its axis horizontal and arranged to enter the shell at one end thereof and to clampingly engage the same, a cradle ahead of the chuck disposed to support a drum shell in clearance but longitudinally alined relation with the chuck, means to advance a supported shell onto the chuck for clamping engagement thereby, means mounted on the advancing means to form an outwardly projecting flange on the end of the drum opposite the chuck, the advancing means including a slide movable to and from the chuck, a substantially horizontal lever pivotally connected at one end to the slide and extending in the direction of the chuck and under a supported shell, a hook upstanding from the other end of the lever to engage the shell flange back of the same, and a fixed cam on which the lever at said other end rides arranged so that the hook will be lowered clear of the flange upon the drum shell reaching a position clear of the chuck.

6. A machine to neck-in a sheet metal drum shell adjacent one end thereof, said machine comprising a mount, an expansible rotary chuck and die head journaled in the mount and adapted to engage in said one end of the shell and including a plurality of circumferentially spaced die and chuck shoes formed with a peripheral die chan nel in their outer face, a separate die supported from the mount for movement radially of the head between a clearance position and a working position projecting into the channel to neck-in the drum upon rotation of the head, means mounting the shoes in the head for radial expanding and contracting movement, means to move the shoes including a longitudinal shaft unit, means connecting the unit at one end to the shoes to move the same between fully expanded and fully contracted positions upon longitudinal movement of ,the shaft in one direction or the other, a double acting fluid ram connected to the other end of the unit to so move the shaft, and spring means acting on the shaft unit when the ram is relieved of fluid to move and hold the shaft unit in a position such that the shoes will be partially expanded so as to just fit into the shell before the latter is placed on the chuck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 412,344 Smith Oct. 8, 1889 611,632 Hoffman Oct. 4, 1898 1,275,867 Davis Aug. 13, 1918 1,421,507 Lindberg July 4, 1922 1,522,770 Dustan Jan. 13, 1925 1,670,138 Cockburn May 15, 1928 1,816,357 Bage July 28, 1931 1,968,700 Milotta July 31, 1934 2,040,785 Esch May 12, 1936 2,131,027 French et al Sept. 27, 1938 2,490,880 Olson Dec. 13, 1949 

